The intelligencer., 1887-10-29
TEMPERANCE AGITATION.

friend of temperance that we take
pleasure in giving his communication,
and we thank him for the kind words
he has to say of the Intelligencer. In
all that we said and did in the recent
canvass we were sincere, and actuated
only by motives of what we considered
best for the public good.
We shall be glad at all times to CO.
operate with Mr.. Shackelford or others
in practical measures for the advance
ment of temperance. but we cannot see
how his suggestion would effect much
good. First, we think the time mop
perfume. The recent canvass has been
prolific of bitter feeling and hard
knocks. The people who have opposed
the Wood law have been accused OF
being whiskyites, the abettors of muir
der, and other things too numerous
to mention. Many of them who
under normal conditions would be
ready to aid in abolishing saloons
are tired of the whole subject just now
and want a rest from it. They are in
no mood at this early day to take it up
again. The tide is not in the right
| direction. Second, the contest of
October 13, was. one which by the
terms of the law voted upon meant a
settlement of the question for four
wears. We hold that the issue was
prohibition, and not the saloon, but the
friends of the measure advocated the
contrary view and urged the saloon as
the issue. If the law is sustained by
the supreme court aud is permitted to
remain on the statute book they will,
most likely, ask for its re-submission
four years hence. In one direction,
the question is certainly settled for four
years, and that is in the direction of
the Wood law. And we feel very sure,
should it be in any way resurrect-
ed, until there is amended legislation, /,
as a political movement, with offices
attached, either in the city or county,
that it will again be badly defeated.
Our correspondent is not a politician
and we feel confident nothing of that
kind is intended by him, but even the
plan he advocates seems to us imprac-
ticable Getting signers to petition
such as he proposes would be difficult
task in any event, and, as under the
law it could effect nothing, it would be
particularly difficult. What we must
do now is to take the law as we find
it. Under the law the county court
NAV issue a saloon license 1t a majori-
ty OF the taxpayers in any incorpora-
ted town sign an application therefor;
if two-thirds of the taxpayers sign
they must issue the license. In Lexing-
ton alone of the towns in the county
simply the block is contemplated in the
law 1t will, therefore, be seen that a
majority of remonstrants would effect
nothing in these, unless the majority
was secured in the several towns. For
instance, at Napoleon, in the face OF
the agitation of the Wood law, Mr..
Williamson, at the term of court before
the election, presented an application
containing the names of two-thirds of
the tax payers of the place, and was
granted license.
1t seems to us that the best thing to
do is to tamiliarize ourselves thoroughly
with the present law, and to demand
the enforcement of its many excellent
provisions to the letter. Then, as to
the reduction of the number of saloons,
to do all that can be done, by persua-
sion, to induce people to quit drink
themselves, to promise not to ask
others to drink at bar, land not to sign
applications for saloon licenses. The
abOlishment of saloons in this way will
mean something, because it will have
behind it a public sentiment that will
be stronger than any statute law.
This, we believe, is practically the
Clay county plan. and Clay has for
many years been the typical temper
ance county of Missouri. This is q
temperance work with which politics
need not be mixed, and with which
coercion would have nothing 10 do.
But it cannot be accomplished in a day
| or week or month. 1t will require
time, perseverance, patience, charity
and temperance-ot language. The
most effective temperance organization
in the great city of New York is one
which asks of men just such pledges
as they will keep, that wins by the
moderation OF it's demands and counsels.
Under the present law if saloons are
abolished liquors can only be sold un-
der prescription of physician for spe
officially named disease, and not for
domestic or other use; and under
merchants licenses in quantities OF
five gallons or over; which practically
prohibits the sale for domestic pur-
poses, as very few people care to buy
or have any use for such quantity
This, therefore, will in some cases act
as deterrent with persons who them
selves have no use for saloons, but
who do not believe in or approve pro-
| hibition.
We believe the Wood law to be un.
constitutional, but we think local
option law can be prepared that will
be free from this fatal defect, and we
believe in the principle of local option
If the prohibitionists are sincere il
holding the position laid down by DR.
Herrick johnson; if "the mob" "the
confiagration" is the saloon; if theil
whole aim and purpose is the saloon
then they should be willing to stop a
the destruction of the mob, the exiting
nishment of the conhagration. To dc
this a democratic law, republican
law, a local option law free from al!
obnoxious violation of personal liberty
can be framed. Such law woult
provide squarely and without ambigui
ty ior vote on the question of salool
or no saloon; with the saloon it woul,
have high license and strict regulation
as under the Downing law; withou
the saloon it would provide for tn
sale of liquor by druggists, under pre-
scriptions and strict regulation, fo